Implement combination



Feb. 16 1943. R. B. LAIRD IMPLEMENT COMBINATION Filed Feb. 25) 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. i Royal BLaird 024.12, M

A TTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1943' R. B. LAIRD IMPLEMENT COMBINATION Filed Feb. 25, 1941 6 Sheets- Sheet 2 4 3 3 .2 7. 7 fhi 2 \H 3 7 v. o 1: to 7 o o H a 0 5 .m m. a

2 ow] 3 F. l y 5 4 Q P lNVNTOR. Royal B..Laz'rd M dual-1L N ATTORNEYS Feb.16, 1943. RBLMRD 2,311,551

IMPLEMENT COMBINATION Filed Feb. 25, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Raga Z 5. La ird A TTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1943. R. B. LAlRD 2,311,551

IMPLEMENT COMBINATION Filed Feb. 25, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Ra ya Z 5.1.5 z'rc ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1943. R. B. LAIRD IMPLEMENT COMBINATION Filed Feb. 25, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Royal .B.Laird ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1943. R. B. LAIRD IMPLEMENT COMBINATION Filed Feb. 25, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. Royal .BLa in! A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE IMPLEMENT COMBINATION Royal B. Laird, Merced, Calif.

Application February 25, 1941, Serialv No. 380,411

Claims.

This invention relates to agricultural ground working implements, my principal object being to provide a combination implement which, by rearrangementof certain of its various parts, can be used as a scraper, a ditcher or a ridger.

The implement is particularly designed and admirably adapted for the use of the relatively small farmer operating in the parts of this country where irrigation is employed in connection with the growing of crops, since it enables him to carry out the various ground preparing operations necessary with irrigation, without putting him to the heavy expense necessary in connection with the purchase of separate implements for these different operations, as must now be done.

A further object of the invention is to provide an implement which when arranged as a scraper has what I believe to be a novel means for controlling the dumping of the same. Also, the parts of the scraper are so arranged that whether used as a scraper, a ditcher or a ridger, it may be readily adjusted for different scraping, ditching or ridging widths, as'operating conditions may require.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved implement as arranged as a scraper and as connected to a draft tractor of a certain well-known make.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the implement arranged as a scraper.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the implement as arranged as a ridger.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the implement arranged as a ditcher.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the same.

Figure '7 is a front view of the draft member of the implement detached.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view showing the use of the side plates or wings of the scraper as extensions of the ditcher or ridger plates.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 99 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the implement comprises a rigid transvers beam I preferably of rectangular cross-section, having a wishbone draft connection member 2 rigid therewith and upstanding therefrom centrally thereof. This member is provided at the top with a central clevis 3 and at the bottom with transversely spaced clevises 4 for pivotal connection with top and bottom draft arms 5 and 6 respectively. These arms are pivoted on and project rearwardly from the frame or mechanism housing 1 of a wheeled tractor 8 of a certain make, the arms Ii being connected to controlled raising and lowering links 9. With this arrangement, it will be seen that the member 2, and hence the beam I, are maintained against tilting, while being held at any desired level relative to the ground.

Invertedly and slidably engaging the beam I on the back side thereof is a rigid channel beam I ll, releasably held against movement on the beam I by bolt connected clamping brackets I I of suitable form and adjustable along the beam II]. A rigid standard I2 of L-shaped form projects rearwardly from the beam I0 centrally of its ends and terminates in a vertical portion. A rigid, longitudinal beam I3 is secured on and projects rearwardly from the outer end of said vertical portion of the standard and terminates in a vertically extending plate I4 having longitudinal rows of bolt holes therein as shown.

The forward end of the beam I3 and the adjacent vertical portion of the standard I2 project between and rigidly support a forwardly facing V-point or plow member P of symmetrical form and which includes a pair of rearwardly di'vergin'g plates 55. This point, when the vertical portion of the standard i2 projects upwardly, is disposed in inverted relation to the ground, as shown for instance in Fig. 1.

Substantially horizontal and relatively small disc-like plates it are rigid with and project rearwardly from the rear members of the clamping brackets II, and are centrally pivoted in connection with similar plates I! disposed in face to face contact therewith. Each plate I! is formed with a rearwardly projecting radial ear I8 disposed in a horizontal plane, and said plates I6 and II are held in any adjusted position relative to each other by a slot and bolt arrangement I9, so that the transverse spacing between the ears I8 may be altered to suit.

The above parts comprise the fixed frame structure of the combination implement, the beam I0 being set in the beam I so that the plow point is inverted when the implement is arranged as a scraper or a ridger, and being turned relative to the beam I so that the plow point is in a lowered ground engaging position when the implement is arranged as a ditcher, as clearly shown.

This inversion of beam l3 relative to beam I is necessary, since the draft member 2 must always project upwardly from the beam I regardless of the use to which the implement is being put.

' The separable parts of the implement, usable in different positions to form the different implements, are in the main a pair of relatively long, rectangular, transversely curved plates 23 bladedalong one edge, a pair of flat wing plates 2!, and a pair of tension or compression bars 22.

When the implement is arranged in the form of a scraper as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plates 23 are disposed in overlapping relation with each other and according to the total length desired, and said overlapping portions are adjustably secured together by bolts 23 passed through alined ones of the rows of bolt holes 23 provided in said plates near the top and bottom. The wing plates are curved along the rear edge to correspond to the curvature of the blade plates, and such edge of each wing plate is provided with ears 23 bent to overlap a plate 23 at its outer end and to be secured thereto by bolts 23. It will thus be seen that the plates 23 with the wings thereon form a scraper bowl of conventional form.

The bars 22 are pivotally connected to the wings intermediate their ends by removable bolts 21, said bars at their forward end being formed with ears 29 bent at right angles or horizontally and then engaging the ears l3, to which they are detachably secured by bolts 29. The total width of the scraper bowl is determined, of course, by the amount of overlap of the plates 23, the bars 22 being then maintained parallel to each other either by adjusting the plates II on the plates II, or by adjusting the clamping brackets themselves along the beam 13. The scraper bowl thus provided is obviously of a type suitable for leveling, check forming, and other operations necessary when preparing for irrigation.

Such a bowl is dumped, with forward movement of the implement, by the rotation of the bowl about the pivot bolt 21, the wings 2| then rolling on the ground and lifting the lower bladed edge of the plate unit 23 from the ground, as will be obvious. In order to control this dumping action, I provide the following releasable holding means: Pivoted on top of the beam l3 intermediate its ends is a rearwardly projecting link 33 having an upstanding arm 3| at its rear end. Pivoted on said link 33 adjacent its rear end, and projecting rearwardly and downwardly through a longitudinal slot 32 in said beam I3 is another link unit 33. This is detachably pivoted at its rear end on an ear 33 adjustably secured on and upstanding from one of the plates 'by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

is no longer restrained, and as a result the bowl rotates freely to a dumping position as indicated The bowl then returns to a normal position of its own weight as soon as the load is discharged therefrom. The arm 3| is thus pulled from the tractor by any suitable means, such as a pull cord removably applied to the arm and indicated at C.

In order to arrange the implement for ridging purposes, the link 33 is disconnected from the ear 33, the plates 23 are uncoupled from each other, the wing plates are removed, and the bars 22 are disconnected from the wings and from the ears I8. The plates 23 are then placed in rear?- wardly converging relation with each other as shown in Fig. 4 and so that the concave side thereof faces inwardly, and are removably connected with the ears l8 by overhanging ears 33 formed on the plates 23 at the top and at one end, thebolts 29 being again used as the connecting means. The plates are maintained in the desired converging relation to each other by the bars 22 which now extend laterally from the upstanding plate l3, which as previously stated is at the rear end of beam l3.

The bars are laid flat and are turned so that their ears 28 engage the plate 13, to which they are removably secured at the desired level by bolts 33, as shown in Fig. 3. The bars overhang the top of plates 23 intermediate their ends, and rest on horizontal ears 31 which project from the top edge of the plates 23 near their end opposite ears 33, being detachably secured to ears 31 by bolts 33.

The bars 22 are provided with rows of holes for the bolts 39 as shown, so that the angle of convergence of the plates 23 may be altered. The plate I3 is also provided with vertical rows of holes for the bolts 23 so that the angle of the plates 23 relative to a horizontal plane may also be altered, it being understood that the bolts 33 and 29 are left somewhat loose, while making any adjustment, so that the plate ears may be somewhat angularly disposed relative to the ears l3 and'the bar 22. With this arrangement, the point P remains in its inverted position out of the way, and the linkage 32 may be held from dropping by means of a transverse pin 33 mounted on the beam l3 and projecting through a hole in link 32. The pull cord of the arm 3| is also re-' moved.

23. The linkage is arranged so that when the V bowl is in a scraping position, said linkage is broken down slightly below a dead center position, such break down being limited by the engagement of the forward link 33 at its rear end with a stop shoulder S on the rearlink. With the forward movement of the implement, therefore, the resulting rotative pressure of the ground against the lower edge of the plate unit 23 is restrained from being effective to rotate the bowl. When, however, the arm 3| is pulled up to lift the linkage above said dead center position, the rotative pressure on the bowl When it is desired to arrange the implement as a ditcher, the plates 23 and bars 22 are again dismounted and the beam I3 is reversed or inverted in position relative to the beam 1 so as to dispose the point P in a ground engaging position, as shown in Fig. 5. The plates 23 are then placed in rearwardly diverging relation to each other from between the plates I3 at their rear end, and

so that the concave side of the plates face out-' wardly, as shown. The plates 23, which are approximately the same height as the point P, are disposed so that the ears 33 are at their forward end, so that they overhang the plates 13 without interference. The plates 23 are detachably connected near the bottom to the plates l3 adjacent their rear end by bolts 33 projecting through said plates and brackets 3| mounted on the plates i3 laterally inward thereof.

Said plates 23 and I3 are then held in yieldable engagement with each other by compression springs 32 about the bolts 33 and extending between the inner face of plates 23 and said brackets 3i, as shown in Fig. 9. The plates 23 may thus be set at different diverging angles without loosening .the bolts 40. or without tending to warp the plates I 5. The bars 22 are again used to maintainthe plates 2 in adjustably diverging relation, and at different angles relative to the ground in the same manner as when the structure is arranged as a ridger and as previously described.

When the implement is arranged either as a ridger or as a ditcher, the wing plates 2| may, if desired, be employed as extensions of the plates as shown in Fig. 8, being removably secured thereon on their concave side by bolts 43. The wings may thus be secured either in direct longitudinal alinement with the plates 20 or at a horizontal angle relative thereto, using certain ones of the same bolt holes H originally used in connecting the wings to the plates 20. The wings when so used serve to aid in packing the sides of the ridge or the banks of a ditch, as the case may be.

It is of course to be understood that the plates, wings and bars are all initially provided with a sufficient arrangement of bolt holes to meet all requirements of adjustment and connection, so that the user can readily set up the implement in its various forms and to any desired adjusted position without the use of any tools other than an ordinary wrench.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detai1 may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A scraper'including a supporting structure adapted for connection with a draft device, a scraper bowl, means mounting the bowl on the structure for rotation and including side bars mounted at their forward end on the structure and extending rearwardly and pivoted at their rear end on the bowl, and releasable holding means between the bowl and structure normally preventing forward rotation of the bowl about the bar pivots; said holding means comprising a pair of links pivoted together at adjacent ends and extending lengthwise of the scraper, means pivoting the forward link at its forward end on the structure, 'rneans pivoting the rear link at its rear end on the bowl at the top thereof, said links being broken down below a dead center position when the bowl is in scraping position,-

means limiting such breaking down movement and means applied to one link to raise the same above dead center position.

2.'A scraper comprising a supporting structure which includes a transverse beam adapted for connection with a draft device, a scraper bowl including a pair of back plates overlapping each other, means adjustably connecting said plates together whereby to alter the overall width of the bowl, side tension bars projecting forwardly from the bowl adjacent its side edges, and members adjustably mounted on the beam on which the arms are secured at their forward end.

3. A scraper comprising a supporting structure which includes a transverse beam adapted for connection with a draft device, a scraper bowl including a pair of back plates overlapping each other, means adjustably connecting said plates together whereby to alter the overall width of the bowl, side tension bars projecting forwardly from the bowl, members mounted and projecting rearwardly from the beam, elements adjustably turnable on said members, ears on said elements projecting radially thereof, and ears on the bars at their forward end engaging and secured to the first named ears.

4. A convertible ground working implement comprising a rigid structure adapted for connection to a draft device, said structure including a longitudinal rearwardly extending beam, two initially separate ground working blades disposed on edge on opposite sides of the longitudinal beam, said blades being arranged for connection with said structure, selectively in rearwardly diverging relation to said beam as a ditcher, in rearwardly converging relation to said beam as a ridger, or, with adjacent ends connected, in transverse relation to said beam as a scraper, and instrumentalities consisting essentially of a sin gle set of connector elements adapted to be used in common to rigidly but removably connect said blades with said structure in any one of said positions relative to the beam.

5. A convertible ground working implement comprising a rigid supporting structure adapted for connection with a draft device, said supporting structure including a transverse beam and a longitudinal rearwardly extending beam rigidly connected together in substantially T-shaped relation in plan, two initially separate ground working blades disposed on edge on opposite sides of the longitudinal beam, said blades being arranged for connection, selectively, with said longitudinal beam in rearwardly diverging relation as a ditcher, at their forward end with said transverse beam in rearwardly converging relation as a ridger, or, with adjacent ends connected, with said longitudinal beam in transversely extending relation as a scraper, and instrumentalities consisting essentially of a single set of connector elements adapted to be used in common to rigidly but removably connect said blades with said beams in any one of said selective positions.

6. A convertible ground working implement comprising a rigid supporting structure adapted for connection with a draft device, saidsupporting structure including a transverse beam and a longitudinal rearwardly extending beam rigidly connected together in substantially T-shaped relation in plan, two initially separate ground working blades disposed on edge on opposite sides of the longitudinal beam, said blades being arranged for connection, selectively, with said longitudinal beam in rearwardly diverging relation as a ditcher, at their forward end with said transverse beam in rearwardly converging relation as a ridger, or, with adjacent ends connected, with said longitudinal beam in transversely extending relation as a scraper, and instrumentalities to connect said blades with said beams in any one of said selective positions, said instrumentalities including a pair of initially separate bars corresponding to said pair of blades, said bars being arranged for connection, selectively, between the longitudinal beam and the rear end portions of the corresponding blades when the latter are in said divergent or convergent positions, or between the transverse bar and the outer end of corresponding blades when the latter are in said transverse position. i

7. A convertible'implement as in claim 5, in which said instrumentalities include a pair of the outer end of corresponding blades as forwardly projecting wings when said blades are in said transverse position. i

8. A convertible implement as in claim 5 in which said supporting structure is invertible mounted, there being a forwardly facing vshaped plow member mounted on said longitudinal beam adjacent its forward end; said plow member depending from said longitudinal beam when the structure is in one position, and the blades when in said divergent position being connected at their forward end with corresponding sides of the plow member, the structure being positioned so that said plow member projects above the longitudinal beam when said blades are in said convergent and transverse positions.

9. A ditcher comprising a supporting structure adapted for connection to a draft device and which includes a longitudinal beam held against deflection in a vertical plane, a V-point member rigid with the beam adjacent its forward end and projecting below the same, said member including upstanding diverging side plates, a pair of relatively long ditcher plates projecting rearwardly from the memberin diverging relation to each other and at their forward end being overlapped by the side plates of the member, and means connecting the overlapping portions of the plates for yieldable angling movement of the ditcher plates in a horizontal plane, there being means between the beam and said ditcher plates to maintain the latter in different selected angulair positions relative to each other.

10. A ditcher as in claim 9, in which the plate connecting means, for adjacent plates, comprises a bracket fixed on the member plate ahead of the clitcher plate and overhanging the latter in spaced relation thereto, a bolt through the brackst and said plates and a compression spring on the bolt between and engaging the bracket and the adjacent face of the ditcher plate.

- ROYAL B. LAIRD, 

